Belt mounted mud pan holder

ABSTRACT

A clip having a portion for attachment to user&#39;s belt and a portion for holding a mud pan so that the mud pan is effectively hung via the clip from the user&#39;s belt.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/210,234, filed on Jun. 7, 2000 and the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Plasterers use a mud pan for holding plaster while they work. Normally, the mud pan is held in hand by the worker or is placed on a surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention is a clip, which has two portions. One portion, the mud pan support portion, is configured to support a mud pan. The other portion, a belt attachment portion, is configured to attach to the user's belt. With the clip installed on the users belt and the pan supported, the user in effect carries the mud pan on his belt while he works.

[0004] In one embodiment of the invention, it is made from a single piece of metal sufficiently rigid to hold the mud pan in place on the user's belt. The shape is punched from a metal sheet, having all the parts in one piece and is then bent into the proper shape.

[0005] In an embodiment of the invention, there is a laterally extending flange to be slipped inside the user's belt. A pair of oppositely extending spaced apart flanges are positioned adjacent and generally parallel to the laterally extending flanges so that a user's belt is captured between the laterally extending flange and the pair of oppositely extending spaced apart flanges. A plate is attached at its top via a bend portion, to the laterally extending flange with offsetting wings extending from left and right sides of the plate and the oppositely extending spaced apart flanges extending from each wing respectively, the plate having a forwardly facing surface, and at least one tab extending from its top and a foot extending from its bottom. Two tabs, spaced apart are preferred. The mud pan is captured at its upper edge under the tabs, between the tabs and the plate and is supported by the foot. The offsetting wings space the plate away from the spaced apart flanges, and at an appropriate angle to accommodate the angle of the side of a mud pan.

[0006] In another embodiment a spring tongue is attached near the bottom of the plate and extends forwardly and upwardly. In a form of this embodiment, the spring tongue is punched out of the plate and bent forward to push the mud pan against the tabs.

[0007] In one embodiment, the entire clip is made of a single piece of metal bent to form the various parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the invention

[0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 6 is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention showing a mud pan installed

[0014]FIG. 7 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 8 is a rear view of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 9 is a top view of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the second embodiment of the invention showing a partial made pan installed.

[0018]FIG. 11 is a two-positioned side view of the second embodiment of the invention showing a mud pan spaced away from the clip and secondly showing a partial section view of the mud pan installed.

[0019]FIG. 12 is a view of the second embodiment of the invention along with a mud pan of the type that has an enlarged clip around its top edge as well as a metal scrapper.

[0020]FIG. 13 is a partial side view of the second embodiment of the invention showing a partial section of the mud pan of FIG. 12 installed.

[0021]FIG. 14 shows the second embodiment of the clip laid out flat after being punched from a flat piece of metal, before it is bent to shape.

[0022]FIG. 15 is a colored photograph of the rear of the clip with a belt and a mud pan attached.

[0023]FIG. 16 is a colored photograph of the front and top of the clip with a belt installed.

[0024]FIG. 17 is a colored photograph of the top of the clip showing a mud pan and a belt installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] This invention is for use by plasterers for holding a mud pan. Normally the plasterer holds the mud pan in his hand. With this invention the mud pan is held on a clip attached to the user's belt. The invention is a clip, which attaches to the user's belt and supports the mud pan. Another embodiment of the invention is the method of forming the clip from a flat sheet of metal.

[0026] In the particular form illustrated in the drawings, the clip is made of one piece of metal punched and bent to shape. There are presently available two popular forms of mud pans. One form is a metal mud pan made of sheet metal. This type of mud pan has sides made of a single sheet of metal, so that the upper edge is only as thick as the sheet metal itself. The other type of mud pan is of molded plastic and the upper edge is a thick lip. As will be seen these two different forms of the upper edge affect the construction of the clip which is one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIGS. 1-5 show a version of the clip, which is useful for the sheet metal mud pan that has no lip at the upper edge. FIGS. 6-14 show a version of the clip that can be used for both the sheet metal mud pan that has no lip at the upper edge as well as for the molded plastic mud pan that has a thick lip forming the upper edge. Photographs of FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are also helpful in understanding the construction and use of the clip. It should be rigid enough to hold its shape while supporting a full mud pan.

[0028] The clip is made of a single piece of sheet metal bent into the shape shown. Referring to FIGS. 1-5 it is useful to begin description of the clip 10 at the bend 12. Extending downwardly and laterally to each side from this bend 12 is a large curved flange 14, which will be slipped to the inside of the user's belt. On the opposite side of the bend 12 is a plate 16, which is trapezoidal in shape. The plate 16 has oppositely extending spaced apart flanges 18 a and 18 b which extent roughly parallel to the flange 14 preferably slightly spaced away from the flange 14. These flanges 18 a and 18 b are positioned by wings 20 a and 20 b, which extend from the sides 22 a and 22 b of the trapezoidal plate 16. The trapezoidal plate 16 is attached to the bend 12 at its upper end 24. Extending from the upper end 24 and spaced away on either side of the bend 12 are tabs 26 a and 26 b, which are bent over to define a space with the plate 16 shown as 28 a and 28 b. The tabs 26 a and 26 b are formed of material punched free from the flange 14. This can be seen on the opposite side as cuts 30 a and 30 b. The bottom 32 of the plate 16 has a foot 34 bent to define a space 36 between the tabs 26 a and 26 b and the foot 34. The wings 20 a and 20 b are shaped to space the plate 16 away from the spaced apart flanges 18 a and 18 b, and to angle the plate 16 so that the lower end is forward of the upper end. This angle will accommodate the angled side of a mud pan. As seen in FIG. 5 the mud pan 38 is installed in the clip 10 having its upper end 40 under the tabs 26 a and 26 b and its floor 42 supported by the foot 34. The arrow 44 shows how the mud pan is moved to mount it and to dismount it from the clip 10.

[0029] FIGS. 6-17 show another embodiment of the clip which can securely hold a mud pan of the plastic molded type that has a thick lip along its top edge, and can also securely hold the sheet metal type of mud pan that has just the thin sheet metal upper edge. In general terms this clip is similar to the clip described above except that it has a spring tongue 70 and a wider space between the tabs 58 a and 58 b and the plate 62. With this modification the spring tongue 70 can force the mud pan against the tabs 58 a and 58 b thereby adjusting for difference in thickness of the upper edge of the mud pan. Referring to the figures, the clip 50 is formed of a single piece of punched and bent metal like the clip 10. Also, as will be seen it should be heat treated to become spring steel in order for the spring tongue 70 to be able to force and hold the mud pan in place. In this case the bend 52 has on one side a wide curved flange 54 to be used for retaining the clip on a users belt 80. On the other side of bend 52 are smaller spared apart flanges 56 a and 56 b which extend oppositely away from each other and roughly parallel to the flange 54, slightly spaced to provide for gripping the user's belt. The tabs 58 a and 58 b are cut out of the flange 52 and are bent over to form a space 60 bounded by the trapezoidal plate 62. Wings 64 a and 64 b place the smaller flanges 56 a and 56 b in position and angle the plate 62 as described above. At the bottom of the trapezoidal plate 62 is a foot 66, which has attached a plastic or rubbery support pad 68. Punched out of the trapezoidal plate 62 is a spring tongue 70 which is attached at 72 to the trapezoidal plate 62 near its bottom, and extends in an outwardly bowed curved portion 74 to a widened terminal end 76 which is shaped to engage and push against the mud pan when in position.

[0030] In use the user's belt 80 is placed between the wide flange 54 and the two smaller flanges 56 a and 56 b, thus holding the clip 50 in place on the users belt. As shown in FIG. 11 a sheet metal mud pan 82 is in place with its upper end 84 held firmly between the tabs 58 a and 58 b by reason of the spring tongue 70 having a restoring force in the direction shown by the arrow 86 to press the upper edge 84 of the mud pan between the tabs 58 a and 58 b and the upper terminal end 76 of the spring tongue 82. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a mud pan 90 of the plastic molded type with a thick lip 92 defining its upper edge can be accommodating by this structure. In this case, to be installed, as the mud pan 90 is tilted and pushed upwardly into position in the space 60, the spring tongue 70 is deflected as shown by arrow 94 (FIG. 12) until the thick lip 92 is in place between the tabs 58 a and 58 b and held in place by the restoring force of the spring tongue 70 as shown by arrow 96 (FIG. 12). Since the tabs 58 a and 58 b are formed to provide a bigger space 60 than is provided in the version of FIGS. 1-6 either form of mud pan fits and the spring tongue 70 adjusts to keep the mud pan upper edge held firmly. The mud pan floor 98 rests on the support pad 68, which is rubbery or plastic to provide good friction to hold it in place.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments numerous modifications and rearrangements can be made with the equivalent result still embraced within the scope of the invention. 

1. A clip for attachment to a user's belt to hold a mud pan comprising; a laterally extending flange; a pair of spaced apart oppositely extending flanges positioned adjacent the laterally extending flange; a plate positioned between the spaced apart oppositely extending flanges and having a forward facing surface, a top and a bottom; at least one tab attached at the top of the plate and positioned forwardly of the plate spaced apart from the plate forward facing surface and extending generally parallel to the plate to define a space for receiving the upper edge of a mud pan between the at least one tab and the plate. a foot extending forwardly of the plate from the bottom of the plate for supporting the bottom of a mud pan.
 2. The clip of claim 1 further comprising a spring tongue attached to the plate near its bottom and extending upwardly and forwardly of the plate.
 3. The clip of claim 1 said at least one tab comprising two tabs.
 4. The clip of claim 1 further comprising two spaced apart wings, each wing being between a respective one of the spaced apart oppositely extending flanges and an adjacent side of the plate, the wings being shaped to angle the bottom of the plate forwardly of the top of the plate to accommodate the angled side of a mud pan.
 5. The clip of claim 1 further comprising a resilient pad on the foot.
 6. The clip of claim 2 further wherein the spring tongue is formed from the plate.
 7. A clip for attachment to a user's belt to hold a mud pan comprising; a mud pan support portion having; a foot extending forwardly of the mud pan support portion; and at least one capture tab spaced above the foot. a belt attachment portion having; a first portion configured to be received on the inside of a user's belt; and a second portion configured to be received on the outside of a user's belt; whereby the belt attachment portion allows the clip to be held on a user's belt and the mud pan support portion holds the top of a mud pan under the at least one capture tab and the foot supports the bottom of a mud pan.
 8. A method of making a belt mounted pan holder comprising; forming a flat metal sheet having a centrally located bend portion, a laterally extending flange portion attached to a first side of the bend portion, a plate portion attached to a second side of the bend portion, oppositely extending wing portions attached to left and right sides of the plate portion respectively, oppositely extending flanges attached to the left and right extremities of the wing portions respectively, spaced apart tabs extending from the top of the plate portion adjacent the bend portion, a foot portion attached to the bottom of the plate portion; bending the wing portions rearwardly along a line of joinder with the plate portions; bending the laterally extending flanges forwardly along a line of joinder with the wing portions; bending the foot portion forwardly along a line of joinder with the plate portion; bending the bend portion to cause the laterally extending flange to face the laterally extending flanges; bending the tabs forwardly along a line of joinder with the plate portion to define a space between the tabs and the front of the plate portion.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising; forming a spring tongue in the plate portion, attached near the bottom of the plate portion and extending freely upwardly; and bending the spring tongue forwardly of the plate portion.
 10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising; treating the clip so that the spring tongue has spring biasing capability. 